Categories:

My Blog

Posts for: October, 2013

Dentist Gastonia, NC

How to Prepare Your Kids’ Teeth for Halloween Candy

It’s about that time. Your kids will be hauling bags of candy home. You want your kids to have fun, so it’s okay to let them have some candy. But, before your kids go trick-or-treating, remember these tips from your dentist in Gastonia.

Moderation
Many Americans enjoy sweet things, such as candy, but it’s important to eat treats in moderation. After the kids get back, sort out their candy and pick certain pieces that they can eat for the night. You can store the rest away for another time. Your kids can enjoy some of their favorite pieces of candy without the overload of sugar.

Eat candy before or after a meal
We know this doesn’t sound correct. We have always been told that treats can spoil our appetite before dinner. Let your kids eat a piece of Halloween candy with or after a meal. Certain foods cause you to salivate more, which helps neutralize the acidity of candy. It’s easier to wash away sugar and other candy debris with healthy food.

Remember to brush and floss
Remind your kids to brush and floss before going to bed, but try to wait at least an hour. Sugar and acid can weaken enamel, so brushing right after may adversely affect the surface of your teeth.

One night of candy won’t cause a cavity, but if your child mentions a toothache and other symptoms, he or she may have developed the cavity before the Halloween festivities. At our Gastonia, NC dentist office, we use general dentist techniques to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It’s a team effort to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. We use general dentistry practices to instruct patients how to practice better hygiene and eating habits.

What costumes do your kids have in store this Halloween? We are excited to hear from you!

Many people associate root canal therapy with being painful, but the pain exhibited is caused by a severe infection of your tooth. Root canal therapy is performed to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. With Gastonia root canal therapy, relief can be brought to your tooth without having to extract it.

How is Root Canal Therapy Performed?

Root canal therapy can be performed in a single visit or multiple visits, depending on your individual case. If you have an infection or abscess in your tooth, Dr. James McCarthy, your dentist in Gastonia, may also choose to have you start antibiotics before completing the root canal in order to prevent further damage. When beginning treatment, your dentist may give you a local anesthetic to numb the tooth that is in need of root canal therapy.

After your tooth is numb, Dr. McCarthy can begin the root canal in his Gastonia office. Treatment begins with the initial removal of the tooth crown, or top, to allow access to the pulp tissue. Once the infected pulp tissue is exposed, it will be removed. The area surrounding and containing the pulp tissue is carefully cleaned, enlarged, and shaped to provide a clean, bondable surface for filling with permanent filler. This will help to prevent further infection and discomfort. After filling your tooth, a crown is fabricated to complete the rescue and restoration of your natural tooth.

How do You Know You Need a Root Canal?

Sometimes, there are no symptoms present when your tooth is infected. In other circumstances, signs that you may need a root canal include, but are not limited to:

Severe tooth pain upon chewing or application of pressure

Prolonged sensitivity and pain to hot or cold temperatures

Discoloration of the tooth

Swelling and tenderness in nearby gums

A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums

If you are experiencing pain in your tooth, visit Dr. James McCarthy, your Gastonia dentist, for further consultation. Dr. McCarthy will be able to examine the tooth causing you pain to further determine the underlying cause. After examination, Dr. McCarthy will create an appropriate treatment plan to successfully save your tooth and eliminate your pain.

Is your tooth infected? Are you experiencing severe tooth pain, but don’t know the cause? Visiting Dr. James McCarthy, your dentist in Gastonia, NC, you can find the relief you need.